Can punch and seal



Jul 3, 192 3. mmm

A JOHNSON CAN PUNCH AND SEAL Filed May 1, 1922 INVENTOR. ijf JaJm A TTORNEY Patented July 3, 1923.

STATES AUDIFF JOHNSON, F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA;

CAN 'JPUNCHAND SEAL.

Application filed May 1,

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anoirr JOHNSON, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Punches and Seals; and I do declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in can punching devices and is especially intended to be used with condensed-milk cans, in which that commodity is universally supplied to the'consumer. I

The principal object of my invention is to provide a device, adapted to fit on top of a can and to be temporarily secured thereto while the can is in use, by means of which two holes, one for pouring and the other as a necessary 'air vent, may be easily punched at one operation, and which will be positioned at diametrically opposed edges of the can, this being of course the proper location in order to readily drain the entire contents of the can.

A second object is to provide a device of this kind which, oncethe holes are punched, will then serve as a seal over the holes, and also prevent them from clogging up. Means however are provided for readily uncovering the holes for pouring when this is desired, without detaching the device from the can.

By thus providing means for sealing the punched holes, not only are the latter kept clear at all times, but the milk is kept from evaporation and deterioration by reason of contact with the air, and flies and other insects or foreign matter cannot enter the holles or pass thereabout to contaminate the mi k.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly'efi'ective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of partsas will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

' In the drawings similar characters of IQlii 1922. Serial No. 557,758.

erence indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing the punches raised.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, showing the holes punched in a can and the punches in their hole-sealing position.

'Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, with the punch-arm raising member detached.

Fig. 4 is a detached view of said raising member.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a circular and fiat plate or disc about the same size as the top of a can 2, and provided at opposed points with downturned ears 3, adapted to pass down outside thecan and to follow the circumference thereof, one of said ears having a set screw 4 whereby to detachably clamp the member to the can.

Built up' on the plate are transversely spaced lugs 5 forming bearings for'the pivotal pins 6 of arms 7 which lie between the lugs, and which extend to the edges of thecan, having at their outer ends and thereunder punch members 8 which lie diametrically opposite each other and are positioned to punch the can as near as possible to the rim thereof, the plate being cut away under I i the punches as shown at 9.

The lugs 5 have circular flanges 10 projecting thereabove, the inner faces of the lugs between the rim portions being circularly bored to turnably receive therein a member 11 formed with a cap 12 which seats outside the rims, the latter together forming a guide for said cap.

On the bottom of the member 11 and projecting downwardly therefrom are opposed cams 13 which, when the cap is rotated, move against and raise the inner ends of the punch-arms 7 so that the punches are clear of the holes, the under faces of the arms inwardly of their pivotal pins being raised clear of the plate 1 when the outer of the arms are resting thereon.

The cap and cam member are held from removal and their rotative movement limited portions t it by means of pins 14 projecting radially of the cap: 5

act

In operation, the plate is first clamped on the canto be punched, and the cap turned so that the punch arms are free of the cams, and the punches rest on the can, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The outer ends of the arms are then pressed by the thumbs of the operator so that the punches pierce the can. If it is then desired to pour out some of the contents of the can, the cap is turned to raise the punches from the holes, and the can may then be tilted to. pour. It is not necessary when pouring to manually hold the cap or arms, since the latter will not again drop into their hole-sealing position until the cap is rotated in the reverse direction, which action, by

disengaging the cams from the arms, allows the latter to drop of their own .weight, since their portions outwardly of the pins 6 are longer and heavier than their inner ends.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have roduced such a device as substantially ful fills the objects of the invention as set forth, herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice'such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. c

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A" can punch and seal comprising a plate adapted to be located on and clamped to a can, arms carrying punches on their undersides pivotally mounted on the plate in opposed relation, and rotatable means mounted above the arms for raising the outer ends thereof at will.

undersides pivotally mounted on the plate in opposed relation, the inner-ends of the arms beyond their pivots being raised from the plate when the punches are depressed, a cap turnably mounted above the inner ends of the arms, and cam means providedwith said cap for engaging and depressing the inner ends of the arms at will.

3. A can punch and seal comprising a plate adapted to be located on and clamped to a can, arms carrying punches on their undersides pivotally mounted on the plate in opposed relation, the inner ends of'the arms beyond their pivots being raisedfrom the plate when the punches are depressed, a cap turnably mounted above the inner ends of the arms, and cam means provided with said cap for engaging and depressing the inner ends of the arms at will, whereby the outer ends thereof will be raised, and means whereb when the cap is rotated to disengage t e cam means from the arms the outer ends of the latter will tend to drop by gravity. 1

In testlmony whereof I afi ix my signature.

AUDIFF JOHNSON. 

